Self-capping syringe assembly with one-way valve
A syringe assembly is disclosed which includes a syringe body defining a fluid reservoir, a plunger assembly including a plunger rod and a sealing member supported on the plunger rod, and a luer cap releasably secured to a distal end of the syringe body. The luer cap includes a luer-type connector member and a fluid outlet. A one way valve is supported within the fluid outlet of the luer cap to prevent flow from the fluid outlet back into the fluid reservoir of the syringe body.
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This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/040,929, filed Mar. 31, 2008, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
BACKGROUND1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to syringes and, more particularly, to a syringe having a luer cap including anti-reflux capabilities for transfer to an indwelling catheter.
2. Background of Related Art
Intravenous or I.V. catheters which are inserted into a patient's vasculature, e.g., vein, to facilitate a variety of different medical procedures, including blood withdrawal, medication delivery, dialysis, etc., over an extended period of time are well known in the art. Such I.V. catheters minimize the pain and discomfort to a patient associated with multiple needle injections which may be required during a hospital stay.
One problem associated with I.V. catheters is that I.V. catheters are susceptible to clotting and may also lead to infection. More particularly, if blood stagnates within the catheter, the blood will eventually clot and occlude the catheter lumen. Further, stagnant blood provides a food source for planktonic bacteria which may form a biofilm and cause infection.
To overcome these problems, systems have been developed for flushing I.V. catheters after fluid has been injected into or removed from the catheter. In one such system, a syringe having a luer connector which is pre-filled with a fluid or lock solution, e.g., saline or heparin, is connected to the I.V. catheter and fluid is dispensed from the syringe to flush any medicament, blood or other fluid from the catheter.
Typically, an I.V. catheter includes a valve structure connected to a proximal end of the catheter which imparts either neutral or positive (distal direction) displacement upon the fluid in the catheter when a syringe is detached from the valve structure. One problem associated with known valve structures is that repeated access increases the potential for introducing bacteria and other microorganisms into the catheter leading to infection. Furthermore, at times, these valve structures don't eliminate the existence of reflux, i.e., fluid or blood flow back into the distal end of the catheter. As discussed above, reflux may result in clotting of the catheter or infection and is undesirable.
Accordingly, a continuing need exists in the medical arts for a syringe type flush system which can be easily connected to an I.V. catheter assembly, operated in a conventional manner and used as a means for capping or sealing off the proximal end of the catheter without causing reflux, thus obviating the need for reusable valve structures.
SUMMARYA self-capping syringe assembly with a one way valve is disclosed which includes a syringe body defining a fluid reservoir and an outlet opening, a plunger assembly including a plunger rod and a sealing member supported on the plunger rod and a luer cap releasably secured to a distal end of the syringe body for providing a means to seal an inlet end of an I.V. catheter. The luer cap includes a luer-type connector member and defines a fluid outlet positioned to communicate with the outlet opening of the syringe body. A one-way valve is positioned within the fluid outlet to allow fluid to flow from the outlet opening through the fluid outlet but to prevent flow from the fluid outlet back into the outlet opening.
In one embodiment, the syringe body includes a hub portion defining a recess dimensioned to receive the luer cap. The luer cap can be frictionally retained in the recess of the hub portion.
In one embodiment, an outer surface of the luer cap includes a first plurality of spaced longitudinally extending ribs and the inner surface of the hub portion of the syringe body includes a second plurality of spaced longitudinally extending ribs which define channels dimensioned to slidably receive the first plurality of spaced longitudinally extending ribs to frictionally retain the luer cap within the hub portion of the syringe body.
In one embodiment, the one way valve is a duck-bill type one way valve. The luer cap can include an outer cylindrical body portion and an inner tapered body portion wherein the inner tapered body portion defines the fluid outlet. The outer cylindrical body and the inner tapered body portion can be spaced to define an annular channel wherein a helical-type coupling member is defined within the annular channel.
A luer cap is also disclosed which includes an outer cylindrical body portion configured and dimensioned to frictionally engage a syringe body, an inner body portion spaced from the outer body portion defining a fluid outlet, and a one way valve supported within the fluid outlet. A helical-type coupling member can be formed on the outer cylindrical body portion.
The coupling member can be positioned within an annular channel defined between the outer cylindrical body portion and the inner body portion. The inner body portion can have a tapered outer surface.
Various embodiments of the presently disclosed self-capping syringe assembly with one way valve are disclosed herein with reference to the drawings, wherein:
Embodiments of the presently disclosed self-capping syringe assembly with one way valve and its method of use will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. In this description, the term proximal is generally used to indicate the relative nearness of a referenced item to a user of the device and the term distal is used to indicate the relative remoteness of a referenced item to a user of the device.
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Luer cap 14 includes an outer cylindrical body portion 64 and an inner tapered body portion 66 which defines a fluid outlet or channel 68. Fluid outlet 68 is positioned to be in fluid communication with outlet opening 58 of syringe body 16 such that outlet 68 communicates with reservoir 24. The outer surface of outer cylindrical body portion 64 includes a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending ribs 70. Each of ribs 70 is dimensioned to be frictionally retained between a pair of ribs 60 of hub portion 54 to frictionally retain luer cap 14 within cavity 54a of hub portion 54. Ribs 60 and 70 prevent relative rotation between hub portion 54 and luer cap 14 during securement of syringe assembly 10 to an I.V. or indwelling catheter assembly (not shown). A sealing member 71, e.g., an elastic O-ring, can be positioned between an outer surface of luer cap 14 and an inner surface of hub portion 54 to prevent fluid leakage about luer cap 14. As illustrated, the engaging surfaces of ribs 60 and 70 can be roughened, ribbed, knurled or the like to improve retention of luer cap 14 within cavity 54a of hub portion 54. It is envisioned that luer cap 14 can be retained within hub portion 54 using other known means of retention, e.g., detents, frangible structure, etc
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Outer cylindrical body portion 64 and inner tapered body portion 66 define an annular channel 74 (
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It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein. For example, a variety of different techniques or devices can be used to retain the luer cap within the hub portion of the syringe body including frangible couplings, detents, interlocking components, etc. Although syringe assembly 10 has been disclosed as being suitable for use with indwelling catheters, syringe assembly 10 may also be used in other medical applications. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.
Claims
1. A self-capping syringe assembly comprising:
- a syringe body defining a fluid reservoir and an outlet opening;
- a plunger assembly including a plunger rod and a sealing member supported on a distal end of the plunger rod;
- a luer cap including retention structure to releasably secure the luer cap to a distal end of the syringe body, the luer cap including a luer-type connector member adapted to engage an I.V. catheter assembly and defining a fluid outlet positioned to communicate with the outlet opening of the syringe body; and
- a one-way valve positioned within the fluid outlet of the luer cap, the one way valve being configured to allow fluid to flow from the outlet opening through the fluid outlet but to prevent fluid flow from the fluid outlet back into the outlet opening.
2. The self-capping syringe assembly with one way valve according to claim 1, wherein the syringe body includes a hub portion defining a recess dimensioned to receive the luer cap.
3. The syringe assembly according to claim 2, wherein the luer cap is frictionally retained in the recess of the hub portion by the retention structure.
4. The syringe assembly according to claim 3, wherein the retention structure is formed on an outer surface of the luer cap and includes a first plurality of spaced longitudinally extending ribs.
5. The syringe assembly according to claim 4, wherein the inner surface of the hub portion of the syringe body includes a second plurality of spaced longitudinally extending ribs which define channels dimensioned to slidably receive the first plurality of spaced longitudinally extending ribs to frictionally retain the luer cap within the hub portion of the syringe body.
6. The syringe assembly according to claim 1, wherein the one way valve is a duck-bill type one way valve.
7. The syringe assembly according to claim 1, wherein the luer cap includes an outer cylindrical body portion and an inner tapered body portion.
8. The syringe assembly according to claim 7, wherein the inner tapered body portion defines the fluid outlet.
9. The syringe assembly according to claim 8, wherein the outer cylindrical body and the inner tapered body portion are spaced to define an annular channel.
10. The syringe assembly according to claim 9, further including a helical-type coupling member defined within the annular channel adapted to engage an I.V. catheter assembly.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Mar 27, 2009
Date of Patent: Aug 9, 2016
Patent Publication Number: 20090247961
Assignee: Covidien LP (Mansfield, MA)
Inventor: James L. Carlyon (Farmington, MO)
Primary Examiner: Aarti B Berdichevsky
Assistant Examiner: Brandy S Lee
Application Number: 12/412,652
International Classification: A61M 5/28 (20060101); A61M 5/31 (20060101);